Coupler



March 5, 1935.

E. P. KINNE COUPLER Original Filed Oct. 29, 1928 fig. 8

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ed mund P Kinn March 5, 1935. KlNNE COUPLER ed Oct. 29, 1928 2 shets sheet 2 Original Fil IrLUeriTZJ-T" "Edmund P i fz'nr-L Patented Mar. 5, 1935 COUPLER Edmund 'P. Kinne, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, III., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Original application October 29, 1928, Serial No. 315,622. Divided and this application January 23, 1932, Serial No. 588,269 r I 5 Claims.

Q,'I'l1is invention relates to coupler mechanism, 'andmore particularly to means for operating a coupler from the side of a car, the present application being a divisionaliapplication of a co-pending'application Serial No. 315,622, filed October An object of the invention is toimprove the operation of. couplers, and more particularly standard A. R. A. couplers, in a manner whereby the coupler can always be operated positively and easily through the medium of the uncoupling rod.

Another object isto provide simple, reliable, eflicient and, inexpensive coupler operating mechanism having cooperating parts whereby a maxi- .mum operating 'force'may be transmitted to the lock for facilitating the operation of the coupler. Still another object is to provide coupler operating mechanism which will fulfill all requirements of service and manufacture and in which the operating handle will always seek a position such that there will be no tendency to disrupt the parts nor to have any interference with the relative movement of the coupled cars or cooperating parts. 7

, A further object is to provide a coupler mechanism which will effect a great saving in the number of parts now in use, as for instance, the elimination of slack devices between the oper'ating'rod and the coupling lifter.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more'fully described and particularly'pointed out in the specification, claims and drawings appendedhereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodimentof; the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate likeparts- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a coupler lifting mechanism showing the same in locked position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the coupler and associated mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, showing the same in knuckle throw position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a car and coupler mechanism with which is associated coupler operating mechanism made in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the car and coupler as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, together with coupler mechanism made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is shown in connection with a car end sill 2 which is provided with the usual runninggear and devices for supporting and cooperating with a standard A. R. A. coupler 4 of the rotary operating type, this coupler being provided with a pivoted knuckle 6,

and being formed with depending spaced lugs. 8 adapted to provide means for supporting a pin 10 extending therebetween and beingjournaled in suitable openings provided therein. The pin 10 is formed with an intermediate flattened portion 12 non-rotatively engaged by the hook portion 14 of the lifter 16. The other end of the lifter .16 is formed with an eye 18 pivoted, as'at 20,v to a link 22 which is operatively associatedwith a look (not disclosed) operable within an opening provided in the coupler head 4 for holding the knuckle 6 in its various operating positions.

The lifter l6 andlink 22 are operated for operation of the look within the couplerhead 4 as by means of an operating rod 24., This operating rod 24 is provided with a handle portion 26 and is knuckled adjacent thereto to form a bearing portion '28 adapted to be, supported in a bracket 30 secured to the car end sill in any desired man,-

ner. This operating rod adjacent the bearing 28 is knuckled and re-knuckled to form a downwardly depending portion 32 whereby the rod 28 is rotatively supported in the bracket 30 and is allowed only limited movement of translation. This operating rod 24 extends downwardly and inwardly from the bearing 30 and is disposed in a bearing aperture-34 formed in one ofthe lugs 8.; This rod extends beyond the aperture 34'fl11d is provided with an offset portion 36 terminating in a lifter engaging part 38. a

In the operation of this operating mechanism, the handle 26 is movedin an upward direction from the position shown inFigure 1 ofthe drawings'to thereby rotate the rod in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the lifter engagingportion 38 to be raised to lift the lifter into an upward position, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, to thereby operate the knuckle controlling mechanism. Upon release of the handle 26 the same will drop from the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings to the position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, whereby the lifter engaging portion 38 is released from engagement with the lifter 16 and irrespective of the position of the lifter or the knuckle operating mechanism. If desired, the operating rod 24 may be operated from the opposite end of the car sill 2 by means of a rod 39 which may have its outer end supported in any desired manner on the car sill 2, and which has an end formed with an eye or loop 41 adapted to embrace the offset portion 36.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a car coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, a bottom lock lift member rotatably supported for operation of said lock, a bracket on said car, an operating rod supported by said bracket, a bracket mounted on said coupler for support of said member and the inner end of said rod, said rod extending from said first-named bracket and hav-- ing its inner end rotatably supported in said second-named bracket, said rod extending beyond said second-named bracket and having a return portion offset in relation to the axis of rotation of said rod and adapted to engage said member to raise the same for operation of said lock, said rod being adapted to return to inoperative position regardless of the position of said lock.

2. In a car coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, a bottom lock lift member pivotally supported for rotation adjacent one end, a lift link connected adjacent its other end and to said lock for transmitting operative movements from said lift member to said lock, a bracket mounted on said car in spaced relation to said lift member, a bracket disposed adjacent said lift member, and a handled uncoupling rod mounted for rotation at its outer end in said first-named bracket adjacent said handle, said rod extending directly to and having its inner end rotatably supported in said second-named bracket, said inner end of said rod extending beyond said lift member and second-named bracket and having a return portion disposed below said lift member adjacent its outer end and in substantial alignment with said lift link whereby said lift member is raised upon rotation of said rod, said handle returning said rod to its inoperative position irrespective of the disposition of said lock lift member.

3. In a car coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, a bracket secured to said coupler, a bottom lock lift member having an end pivotally mounted on said bracket, a lift link connected adjacent the other end of said lift member and to said lock for transmitting operative movements from said lift member'to said lock, a bracket mounted on said car in spaced relation to said lift member, and a handled uncoupling rod mounted for rotation at its outer end in said second-named bracket adjacent said handle, said rod extending directly to and having its inner end rotatably supported in said first-named bracket substantially below the axis of rotation of said lift member, said inner end of said rod extending beyond said lift member and first-named bracket and having a return portion disposed below the outer end of said lift member and in substantial alignment with said lift link whereby said lift member is raised upon rotation of said rod, said handle returning said rod to its inoperative position irrespective of the disposition of said lock lift member.

4. In a car coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having'a lock operable therein, a bottom lock lift member pivotally supported for rotation adjacent one end, a lift link connected adjacent its other end and to said lock for transmitting operative movements from said lift member to said look, a bracket mounted on said car in spaced relation to said lift member, a bracket disposed adjacent said lift member and a handled uncoupling rod mounted for rotation at its outer end in said first-named bracket adjacent said handle, said rod extending directly to and having its inner end rotatably supported in said second-named bracket substantially below the axis of rotation of said lift member, said inner end of said rod extending beyond said lift member and second-named bracket and having a return portion disposed below said lift member adjacent its outer end and in substantial alignment with said lift link whereby said lift member is raised upon rotation of said rod, said handle returning said rod to its inoperative position irrespective of the disposition of said lock lift member.

5. In a car coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, a bracket secured to said coupler, a bottom lock lift member having an end pivotally mounted on said bracket, a lift link connected adjacent the other end of said lift member and to said lock for transmitting operative movements from said lift member to said lock, a bracket mounted on said car in spaced relation to said lift member, and a handled uncoupling .rod mounted for rotation at its outer end in said second-named bracket adjacent said handle, said rod extending directly to and having its inner end rotatably supported in said first-named bracket, said inner end of said rod extending beyond said lift member and firstnamed bracket and having a return portion disposed below the outer end of said lift member whereby said lift member is raised upon rotation of said rod, said handle returning said rod to its inoperative position irrespective of the disposition of said lock lift member.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

